### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chûwg**, represented by `{{H2329}}`, defines a **circle**, **circuit**, or **compass**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. This term describes the vast, curved boundary of the earth or the heavens, often in the context of God's creative power and sovereign domain over the cosmos.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2329}}` is used exclusively in contexts describing the grand scale of God's creation and authority. In Isaiah, God is depicted as the one who "sitteth upon the **circle** of the earth" [[Isaiah 40:22]], establishing his supreme vantage point over all inhabitants. In Proverbs, wisdom is present when God "set a **compass** upon the face of the depth" [[Proverbs 8:27]], an act of delineating boundaries during creation. Finally, in Job, God is described as he who "walketh in the **circuit** of heaven" [[Job 22:14]], signifying his dominion over the celestial realm.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of creation, domain, and divine boundaries:
* `{{H3427}}` **yâshab** (to sit down... to dwell, to remain): This word is used to describe God who "sitteth" upon the circle of the earth [[Isaiah 40:22]], signifying a position of authority and enthronement.
* `{{H2710}}` **châqaq** (to hack, i.e. engrave... prescribe; appoint, decree): This term describes the action of establishing the compass in [[Proverbs 8:27]]. It implies a permanent, decreed boundary, as when God states, "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" [[Isaiah 49:16]].
* `{{H8064}}` **shâmayim** (the sky... heaven(-s)): This is the realm where the "circuit" is found [[Job 22:14]] and what is stretched out above the "circle" of the earth [[Isaiah 40:22]]. It is the primary domain associated with God's creative work and dwelling place [[Genesis 1:1]].
* `{{H8415}}` **tᵉhôwm** (an abyss... the deep): This word identifies the primordial waters over which God set a **compass** [[Proverbs 8:27]], bringing order and containment to what was once a "surging mass of water" [[Genesis 1:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2329}}` is demonstrated through its powerful contextual imagery.
* **Divine Sovereignty:** The concept of God sitting above the "circle of the earth" [[Isaiah 40:22]] establishes his transcendence and absolute rule over the world and its inhabitants.
* **Creative Order:** By setting a "compass upon the face of the depth" [[Proverbs 8:27]], the word illustrates God's power to create order, establish boundaries, and define the structure of the cosmos.
* **Immensity of God's Domain:** The phrase "circuit of heaven" [[Job 22:14]] conveys the vastness of God's sphere of influence and activity, emphasizing that His presence encompasses the entire expanse of the heavens.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2329}}` is more than a simple geometric term. Though used only three times, it paints a profound theological picture of God's relationship to His creation. It defines the scope of the cosmos He governs, from the "circle of the earth" [[Isaiah 40:22]] to the "circuit of heaven" [[Job 22:14]]. It illustrates his power to bring order from chaos by setting a boundary for the deep [[Proverbs 8:27]], portraying a sovereign Creator who establishes the very limits of existence.
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